When Turkey is Not Invited to Thanksgiving Dinner

When Turkey is Not Invited to Thanksgiving Dinner

As more people choose to go vegetarian or simply reduce the meat in their diets for health and ethical reasons, the question of what to serve at Thanksgiving dinner becomes bigger than ever before. Instead of simply debating between Mom’s recipe versus Aunt Ruth’s for the turkey, the entire staple entrée is tossed aside. If you have vegetarians coming to dinner or just want to take the non-traditional route, here are some must haves for your Thanksgiving table:

* Vegan Pot Pie: Served steaming hot with tons of veggies, a flaky crust, and chewy tempeh or seitan. Mealsmatter.org
* Butternut Squash and Apple Soup: the rich sweetness of butternut squash plus the natural tartness of apples, pureed with cinnamon and nutmeg. Simplyrecipes.com
* Soybeans: they are packed with protein, fiber and omega-3 Fatty Acid. Also rich in bone building calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron and isoflavones. You do want to choose the minimally processed soy for healthy, all-natural and energizing foods.
* Autumn Harvest Casserole: pumpkin seeds, golden potatoes, cracked pepper, and portabello mushroom soup combine to make a savory casserole. Vegcooking.com
* Walnut Apple Stuffing: Baked separately from any bird, this recipe will have your guests asking for more. Vegkitchen.com
* Red Cabbage with Cranberries: Bright in color and full of sweet and sour flavor! Theveggietable.com
* Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk: A unique take on mashed potatoes and chock full of Vitamin A to boot! Vegetarian.about.com

And of course, what’s Thanksgiving dinner without dessert? The Pumpkin Patch “Cheesecake” is one definitely worth giving thanks over! Find it on vegcooking.com.

Happy Holidays!
Article by Mitzi Dulan

Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD is the owner of Mitzi Dulan, LLC (www.nutritionexpert.com). As a nationally recognized nutrition and fitness expert, she is a frequently requested speaker, media spokesperson, sports nutritionist and certified personal trainer. Mitzi is the sports nutritionist for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. She has also been a sports nutrition consultant to the Golden State Warriors and San Jose Sharks.
As America’s Nutrition Expert®, Mitzi has conducted over two-hundred television interviews. She appeared as the nutrition expert for the Emmy Award-Winning show "Starting Over" and has been seen on NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX affiliates throughout the country as well as Discovery's Science Channel. Mitzi is frequently quoted in print and online media including: The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Family Circle, Glamour, and ESPN.com.